The Best Books of 2011

After a year of reading, months of choosing, weeks of editing and days of final preparations, January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature is complete. This is our biggest end-of-year feature ever, with selections in eight categories: fiction, non-fiction, crime fiction (parts one and two), art & culture, cookbooks, books for kids, science fiction & fantasy and biography.

You can read about

Best Books of 2011: Fiction

This is the fiction segment of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature. You can see other sections as follows: Best Non-Fiction, Best Art & Culture, Best Biography, Best Books for Children and Young Adults, Best Cookbooks, Best Science Fiction/Fantasy, Best Crime Fiction (part I) and Best Crime Fiction (part II).

11/22/63 by Stephen King (Scribner)
It’s no secret that Stephen King knows

Best Books of 2011: Crime Fiction, Part II

This is the second crime fiction segment of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature. You can see other sections as follows: Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction, Best Art & Culture, Best Biography, Best Books for Children and Young Adults, Best Cookbooks, Best Science Fiction/Fantasy and Best Crime Fiction (part I).

The Gentlemen’s Hour by Don Winslow (Simon & Schuster)
Although Winslow’s

Best Books of 2011: Non-Fiction

This is the non-fiction segment of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature. You can see other sections as follows: Best Fiction, Best Art & Culture, Best Biography, Best Books for Children and Young Adults, Best Cookbooks, Best Science Fiction/Fantasy, Best Crime Fiction (part I) and Best Crime Fiction (part II).30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans by Karl

Best Books of 2011: Crime Fiction, Part I

This is the crime fiction (part I) segment of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature. You can see other sections as follows: Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction, Best Art & Culture, Best Biography, Best Books for Children and Young Adults, Best Cookbooks, Best Science Fiction/Fantasy and Best Crime Fiction (part II).

The Accident by Linwood Barclay (Bantam)
Canadian author Barclay burst upon

Best Books of 2011: Biography

This is the biography segment of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature. You can see other sections as follows: Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction, Best Art & Culture, Best Books for Children and Young Adults, Best Cookbooks, Best Science Fiction/Fantasy, Best Crime Fiction (part I) and Best Crime Fiction (part II).An Improvised Life: A Memoir by Alan Arkin (Da Capo)While Alan Arkin’s An

Best Books of 2011: Art & Culture

This is the art & culture segment of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature. You can see other sections as follows: Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction, Best Biography, Best Books for Children and Young Adults, Best Cookbooks, Best Science Fiction/Fantasy, Best Crime Fiction (part I) and Best Crime Fiction (part II).Alan Lomax: The Man Who Recorded the World by John Szwed (Viking)For a good

What Do Your Favorite Books Say About You?

Tis the season of lists. Everyone -- including us -- is telling everyone about their favorite books of the year. But Flavorwire asks a question that is at once silly and salient: what do your choices say about you?It’s the end of the year, which means every media outlet and talkative friend has been regaling you with a fascinating list of their own personal favorite books of 2011. Now, we love

Best Books of 2011: Science Fiction & Fantasy

This is the science fiction & fantasy segment of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature. You can see other sections as follows: Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction, Best Art & Culture, Best Biography, Best Books for Children and Young Adults, Best Cookbooks, Best Crime Fiction (part I) and Best Crime Fiction (part II).All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen (Tor)Lev AC Rosen’s debut is smart,

Best Books of 2011: Cookbooks

This is the cookbook segment of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature. You can see other sections as follows: Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction, Best Art & Culture, Best Biography, Best Books for Children and Young Adults, Best Science Fiction/Fantasy, Best Crime Fiction (part I) and Best Crime Fiction (part II).Back to Baking: 200 Timeless Recipes to Bake, Share, and Enjoy by Anna Olson (

Best Books of 2011: Books for Children

This is the children’s book segment of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2011 feature. You can see other sections as follows: Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction, Best Art & Culture, Best Biography, Best Cookbooks, Best Science Fiction/Fantasy, Best Crime Fiction (part I) and Best Crime Fiction (part II).A Sword in Her Hand by Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem and Pat van Beirs (Annick Press)A Sword in Her